Traffic signal



Jan. 14, 1941.

TRAFFIC S IGNAL Filed Nov. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l w. H. LEPPERT2,228,835 2 Jan. 14, 1941. w LEPPERT 2,228,835

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed NOV. 4, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllflll a' M180? w INVENTOR.

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Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE TRAFFIC SIGNALWilliam H. Leppert, New Orleans, La. Application November 4, 1937,Serial No. 172,857

3 Claims.

My present invention pertains to traffic signals and it contemplates theprovision in a traffic signal of distinctive motifs or designs that atonce, arrest the attention of a. motorist and consequently materiallycontrol the safe driving of motor vehicles at traffic light controlledcrossings.

It might be well to state, at this point that many motorists, by actualtest, are color blind and consequently the usual red, amber and greendisks now in use in traffic signals are very often confused by suehpersons thereby bringing about a very hazardous condition where suchsignals are installed and with my distinctive signal in addition to thecolors generally in use,'I employ unusual and what might be termedstartling designs of disks that are readily discernable to personssuffering from color blindness.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a traffic signalthat reduces materially the number of light bulbs necessaryfor thesuccessful operation of the signal and consequently the cost ofoperation will be materially reduced. In addition, by my novelarrangement the amber light is shown in all directions when in operationand consequently a motorist at all points will be warned of the changeof lights and the direction of movement.

Other objects of the invention will be fully understood from thefollowing description and claims when the same are read in connectionwith the drawings, forming part of this specification in-Which,

Figure l is a front elevation of my novel trafiic signal.

Figure 2 is an end view of the signal looking in the direction of thearrow A.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal central vertical View of the device andshowing the arrangement of the bulbs within the device as well as theinterior g of the reflecting means.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane indicatedby the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a horizontal view taken in the plane 45 indicated by theline 5-5 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and taken in the plane indicatedby the line B6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a horizontal View taken in the plane 50 indicated by theline 1--'| and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 merely for the purpose of clarity illustrates the various colorsymbols.

Similar numerals of reference designate corre- 55 spending parts in allthe views of the drawings.

My novel device is illustrated as a whole by l and comprises a casingthat is adapted to be suspended from a cable in the center of anintersection or where desired, may be positioned on standards at eachcorner of the intersection and 5 the said casing comprises the cabinetsor frames 2 and access to the interior of the cabinets may be obtainedby loosening the fastening screws 3 thereof.

The housing or signal l is divided into five com- 10L partmentsdesignated 4, 5, 6, 'l and 8, but I would have it understood that moreor less of these compartments: may be employed without departure fromthe scope of my invention. Arranged in each of the compartments andillustrated are light 15;

elements 9 secured in light outlets diagrammatically illustrated. V

Each of the compartments is provided with a series of deflectors II], II, I2, I3 and M for obvious purposes, and these compartments are 20 alsoprovided with the lens l5, l6, l1, l8 and I9 and, I wish it distinctlyunderstood that these lenses are of various shapes and designs and forma very important feature of my invention and in this connection for thepurpose of illustration I 25 have shown the red lens in the shape of astar, I5; the amber lens in the shape of a diamond I1 and the green lensin the shape of a circular disk It but I would distinctly have itunderstood that any distinctive shape or motif, for instance a cross or30 the like may be substituted for the shapes illustrated as it is mypurpose to employ a startling and easily remembered design that will bereadily understandable to motorist regardless of the color of the lens.These lenses are secured within the 5 compartments by the fasteningmeans 29. Manifestly the shape of the openings 2|, 22, 23, 2d, and 25 ofthe compartments will control the shape of the lenses.

By reference to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that in my noveldevice I employ but five light elements whereas it is customary in theusual signal to employ, at the very least two and generally four andmore light elements or bulbs for each signal and this is due tothe factthat frequently each standard or traffic signal comprises north, south,east, west and caution signals that are operated independently accordingto the flow of traffic. By using the few lighting elements and becauseof the construction of my device, cost of manufacture is initiallyreduced and maintenance is consequently brought down to a minimum andthe advantages in this respect of my device over present signals will beappreciated from the following detailed statement as to operation.

In the practical use of my device, we will assume, that the signal ispositioned on a hanger or standard in the manner illustrated in Figure 1and that We consider Figure 1 as controlling north and south boundtraffic. Of course, the motifs or signals will be duplicated on thenorth and south bound face of the signal and we also assume that Figure2 illustrates the east and west bound traflic signal. If the motoristapproaches from the north or south, the signal will not only indicate byits color exactly what course the motorist should take but alsodistinctively indicates this course to color blind motorists. This isalso true of east and west bound trafiic. It will be seen that onelighting element indicates north and south bound traffic directions foreach compartment and also one lighting element for each east and westbound trafiic compartment. Further, it will be noted that the ambercompartment is provided with a lens on all four sides and that thelighting elements in the amber compartment will indicate to allmotorists, regardless to position that a change in the flow of trafficis about to take place.

sequently but a single lighting element will be necessary.

The provision of the distinctive hoods is a step forward in the artbecause under the old pracj tice with the arcuate hood confusion arisesboth to motorists and pedestrians because too wide an angle anddiifusion of rays is permitted and generally do not restrict the raysfrom an exposed green light for instance from facing an approachingmotorist or others.

What I claim is:

1. A traific signal comprising a housing having a series of fivecompartments disposed in end to Naturally the amber light only glowsduring the change of traflic and conend relation, one of saidcompartments having distinctive light transmitting signal means visiblefrom all sides of said compartment, two of said compartments having asecond distinctive light transmitting signal means visible from twoopposite sides thereof and the remaining two compartments having a thirddistinctive light transmitting signal means visible from two oppositesides thereof and on alternate sides from the signal means of the firstnamed pair of compartments.

2. A traflic signal comprising a housing having a series ofcompartments, one of said compartments having distinctive lighttransmitting signal means visible from all sides of said compartment, apair of said compartments having a second distinctive light transmittingsignal means visible from two opposite sides thereof and a second pairof compartments having a third distinctive light transmitting signalmeans visible from two opposite sides thereof and on alternate sidesfrom the signal means of the first named pair of compartments.

3. A traflic signal comprising a housing, a central compartment in saidhousing, said compartment having distinctive light transmitting signalmeans visible from all sides thereof, a second compartment in saidhousing below said central compartment and having a second distinctivelight transmitting signal means visible from two opposite sides thereof,and a third compartment in said housing above said central compartmentand having a third distinctive light transmitting signal means visiblefrom two opposite sides thereof and on alternate sides from the signalmeans of the second mentioned compartment.

WILLIAM H. LEPPERT.

